Grand Canyon’s First Celebrate Wildlife Day a Huge Success

Grand Canyon, AZ. -- On November 1, 2008, Grand Canyon National Park hosted its first Celebrate Wildlife Day to promote understanding and appreciation of the unique and diverse wildlife that make the spectacular Grand Canyon landscape their home. The event was developed to honor biologist Eric York, who dedicated his life to the study of wildlife in the park and around the world. Eric’s father Tony York and several of his closest friends attended the event.

Celebrate Wildlife Day included a series of special ranger programs on wildlife and wildlife biology, as well as exhibits, touch tables, and children’s activities. Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, of Phoenix, Arizona, provided educational demonstrations with live animals including raptors, reptiles, and mammals for almost 650 visitors. Kevin Hansen of New Mexico State Parks, author of Cougar: The American Lion, presented the evening program to an audience of almost 350.

Martha Hahn, Grand Canyon National Par’s Chief of Science and Resource Management said, “Our first Celebrate Wildlife Day was amazing! Members of the park community and visitors from around the world joined us in honoring the park’s wildlife and remembering Eric, whom we tragically lost a year ago. Participants learned a great deal about the park’s wildlife, our wildlife biology program, and wildlife safety. I really want to thank the many park employees and our partners who came together to make this day such a great success.”

Celebrate Wildlife Day was a collaboration between Grand Canyon’s Divisions of Interpretation and Science and Resource Management. Partners included Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the Grand Canyon Association. Students from Grand Canyon Unified School District presented skits about the park’s wildlife before the evening program.

Celebrate Wildlife Day will now be an annual event at Grand Canyon National Park, occurring each year in early May. For information on this year’s event or about the upcoming Celebrate Wildlife Day, please visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/wildlife-day.htm.

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